BBC. The Ascent of Man. Extra Interview with Sir David Attenborough.

[@alsdouble]

What an superb, incredible tribute. 'Bruno' I never knew him as that. Watched the Ascent of Man recently and found it as good now as it was 50 years ago. Well done Pof. Jacob Bronowski, and well said Sir Richard.

[@daveharrison8286]

Sir David

[@therealKINDLE]

It becomes clear that David here has all the qualities missing from society today. Intellect, empathy, passion, facing up to the truth, & expressing oneself with charm & inspiration.

[@hstriepe]

I do not think, it is missing. I think it is drowned out by the tenor of a ravenous minority amplified by media wanting nothing but clicks.

[@dareks8000]

Well said.

[@lordsauron4556]

It’s not true to say that they’re missing from society, since there are plenty of people out there who exhibit these traits (there’s a lot of people out there!). True it is, however, that some fringe elements of society have spread their poison of degradation in this regard and young people have become hopelessly addicted to the brain-mushing, intellect zapping phenomena of social media. I think in the end intellect will prevail, as there will always be people more inclined to academic pursuits and specialised interests, no matter what age it is.

[@vamseemk]

@@lordsauron4556this comment is better than the OP, which ruins the sentiment with its patronising.

[@Martinique_36]

You are joking

[@no-oneman.4140]

He did not rehearse it. He did not repeat it. Tremendously powerful words.

[@HerbertDuckshort]

Jacob Bronowski’s speech at Auschwitz still reduces me to tears.

[@cgbleak]

Possibly the greatest moment of recorded television.

[@falcodarkzz]

One of the finest pieces of TV ever produced, praise from Sir Attenborough into the bargain. Well done Bronowski.

[@Thepourdeuxchanson]

Still the very best television I ever saw.

[@Mediumal]

Intellectual entertainment of the highest order. The Ascent of Man stands as one of the greatest TV series ever produced. A colossul ambitious series of programs for those of us who want the very best that TV can provide. Wouldn't be contemplated today, because those who control our TV are such cowards, who would fear to upset certain people.

[@zashkata]

very eloquently put Mr Birchley :)

[@nuao88]

I discovered this series in 2014 while reading about the production of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, producer Adrian Malone also worked on that after doing this series. One of the greatest things ever made for television. Everything made today pales absolutely to the likes of this.

[@edwardmurphy7792]

I remember well the unmissable ASCENT OF MAN ,it prompted much discussion among young people at that time ,at least among those I knew , Today it seems to me there is a distinct lack of programming to sett the brain working, just sensation and reality shows, sad really

[@DrZacksCafe]

@@nuao88 Civilisation, The Ascent of Man and Cosmos. The Original Trilogy.

[@gavinedinburgh]

Not just that - TV documentaries have on the whole been dumbed down....

[@DavidBensonActor]

I never tire of re-watching The Ascent of Man and learn something new every time. Bronowski was a poet, scientist and philosopher and the most watchable 'television presenter' I've ever seen.

[@mickmckeown9288]

I bought the box set on Amazon along with “the world at war” possibly the best productions ever made by the bbc…absolutely mind blowing television at its best…,

[@tonysuffolk]

Rewatching "Ascent" again for the first time for many years. What a marvellous series. To think some today, like Nadine Dorries wants to defund the BBC.

[@nickharland3795]

It was a great series. Dr. Bronowski was a perfect choice for "The Ascent Of Man". Brilliant presentation.

[@issyjas3309]

There’s a great interview with Michael Parkinson, supremely gifted man.

[@Martinique_36]

He actually wrote a book with the same title from which this series was born.

[@davidwallace9695]

I have watched this brilliant series many times. I see from my note in the inside cover that I bought the book in December, 1973, It has accompanied me to many countries of the world and I still refer to it. Only a few days ago (in January 2019) I took it with me to my local Health Centre, to illustrate a point I had been making to one of the nurses there.

[@lauriemarie1983]

Could listen to this man's voice all day, so soothing

[@ysgol3]

He was so uniquely, brilliantly, innovative and creative in TV senior management, and then he gave it all up to return to what he truly enjoyed - and nobody since has been anywhere near Sir David's class in facilitating TV brilliance!

[@stanleycates1972]

Changed my life in 1975. Bought the book and re read it every few years. Also Science and Human Values.

[@elletuppen4844]

Thank you sir David for this warm and honouring reminisce! Bronowski presented ‘science’ in a most delightful and palatable manner and yes his pauses became legendary 😄 The scene with him dipping his hand into the pond and scooping up a palm of ashes of his people was spine chilling and deeply moving. It felt authentic as in only one take and had me sobbing.🙏🏽

[@nearlyretired7005]

I have seen this clip several times and I feel the same.

[@jackieking1522]

That was the greatest TV series ever....I even bought the book AND read it..... still tear up with the "..... consider you may be mistaken." plea at Auschwitz ,

[@ericbenjamin2908]

"Ascent of Man", "Civilization" and "Cosmos" I make a point of commending to my humanities students. Planting seeds.

[@johnclayton7471]

Happy days, Civilisation, The Ascent of Man and (modest) Sir David's own Life on Earth. My mum loved them all.

[@medusaman1]

Add to those Life on Earth and you're complete.

[@areyouwatchingclosely-t9h]

Amazing man. Higher praise does not come higher and one of the few I would consider on a par with Sir David Attenborough. A gent and dare I say in possession of some swagger. RIP Dr. Bronowski

[@Benya-d9j]

When the BBC was a benchmark of quality broadcasting.

[@cathywithac]

"The Ascent of Man" was a text book in university. I loved reading this book. It opened my young mind up to the connectedness of everything.

[@di7948]

My mothers hero, way back in the early 70's, both long gone now

[@georgeallen7101]

An incredible man with all the positive qualities we are lacking today . A pool of intellect and intelligence we are sadly lacking today .

[@fredferd965]

This wonderful, beautiful, passionate series could easily be taught as a class in any University! It would be a credit to any institution, and I would like to see it as a requirement for graduation from High School as well. I remember the series well! I do not even begin to have the words at my command to do it justice -- Bob

[@ivangartenhaus4276]

As a requirement for graduation from high school, that would be interesting. The thing is there are videos of lectures and documentaries like these that are much more useful than many written books. This is the future of education indeed.

[@marimonda8]

I always come back to remember this most wonderful BBC production: The Ascent of Man, a series that changed my life by awakening me, like suddenly turning around to see the world with loving eyes. Mr Bronwski just captured my heart and attention. I counted the days for each next episode, and I also had the chance to see whole program more than once. Mr. Bruno, thank you.

[@keitht2045]

Thank you so much for posting this excellent and moving interview!!

[@ajoybaksi3654]

Touches on three of my all time favorites on arts and science - Sir Kenneth Clark, Jacob Bronowski and Richard Attenborough. Bronwski did appear quite often on TV in the mid fifties - I remember seeing him at that time. Good to note that the undoubted genius (William Blake) continues to fascinate so many of the great brains over the years. Remember seeing some episodes of Ascent of Man on Canadian TV in 1973 - profoundly taken with his episodes on Darwin and Einstein. 50+ years later, I am even more impressed at what Bronowski achieved with this TV series. the book bearing the same title, and his many writings. Sir, I salute you.

[@anacoman3265]

I just watched Michael Parkinson's wonderful 1974 interview of Dr. Bronowski on KZbin, and that led me to these very interesting and illuminating comments by Sir David.

[@DrZacksCafe]

Fiftieth anniversary of The Ascent of Man soon. As it was shot on film, time for a high definition transfer, restoration and re-screening.

[@HouseholdDog]

It is a testament, to the Ascent of Man, that is is both the prototype and best example, of it's genre.

[@Nicksonian]

I first saw The Ascent of Man-and read the book-as part of a college class my freshman year, in 1975 or 76. I don’t know why I even noticed the course let alone signed up for it. I’m glad I did because it got me thinking like an adult and what it means to broaden your thinking and horizons. Bronowski was a brilliant, eloquent man and his series holds up magnificently a half century later. I had no idea that Sir David had anything to do with the series and wouldn’t discover his prodigious talents and intellect for many years.

[@renefeijen5916]

The Ascent of Man... ohhh... the greatest documentary series I know of for years now. This YT video came up as a suggestion, after I saw a YT about Neil Degrasse Tysons Phd. His thesis starts with... a quote from Bronowski...

[@josephdaviddefrancis2687]

Beyond clever. A mark that can mark mankind’s existence. I have walked forward in life with this knowledge of mankind’s existence in history since 1st seeing your teaching series in 1975. Thank you for giving me this measure of awareness pertaining to our civilization, before that it was the ineptness of a that which you once referred to as “the long childhood”.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Episode 11 Knowledge or Certainty from the Ascent of Man seamlessly knits together the simultaneous rise of Quantum Mechanics e.g. the complete negation of absolute certainty and Hitler's monstrous dogma of racial superiority into a single brilliant ethical manifesto. It's the irony that these two completely antithetical philosophical assertions would arise at the same time in the same country Germany in the 30s that illuminates this amazing treatise on ethics.

[@stanleycates1972]

This series and the book changed my life. I fell in love with an old Jewish man and his mind. As a conservative atheist he wrote another book I have read a few times. - Jacob Bronowski left the strict science of mathematics to enter the study of humanities. He delivered 3 lectures at MIT that were later turned into a book "Science and Human Values" The 3 lectures were 1. the creative mind 2. the habit of truth 3. the sense of human dignity. Once past the hunter gatherer stage and it's many gods, man had time to become what man is, a thinker. JB wrote that the development of poetry and art in a creative sense were just as important as the science that followed in finding a likeness in nature. His thesis was that the true nature of science comes about because of civilized educated thinking man's human values. This man understands the value of churches in community good and bonding, but remains perplexed at the juvenile mythology's that hold it together. Science could not exist without human values, human values will not remain without science that has given us everything good we have, fighting ignorance, superstition and religion every step of the way.

[@14147s]

Brilliant. A great man talking about a great man.

[@jsimonlarochelle]

I think it really is a masterpiece.

[@jasonwest2297]

I've never seen the series but I've read the book several times and I can't praise it highly enough. For me, one of the top ten greatest non-fiction books of all time.

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

Interestingly enough, Bronowski would have seen ( did see ) the patchwork between The Arte and Science as quite seamless. The one informing the other. He was the 20th Century Renaissance man - if ever there was one.

[@issyjas3309]

What will we all do without him, personally I’ve no idea. Been with me through a tv since I was 6 years old. As an aside Jacobs interview with Michael Parkinson is just brilliant.

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

I watched that interview just today - amazing piece of tv history. I watched the ascent of man in my university days back in the 1990’s on VHS. Incredibly inspiring. Eventually the ascent of man lead my to the likes of Pablo Neruda, Rumi, Rabindranath Tagore, Carl Sagan, Joseph Campbell and Arthur C. Clark and many, many other giants. To this day, because of the Ascent of Man I maintain a burning passion for science, poetry and literature.

[@lesleymcshanemitchell9651]

Enjoyed this so much Bruno was one of my Hero's. I went on to d my Thesis . Never frgot him He died at 66 Far to early

[@sylvialandman3959]

This is when BBC was great

[@feliscorax]

Indeed. The Beeb’s dumbing down has coincided with that of its audiences - or is it the other way round?

[@garyblais8602]

Thanks to Sir David we have the record of Lord Clark an Bruno that makes it all quite relevant if you are are at all attunded to the Future. Most dont get it.

[@samanthafox3124]

OMG!! Sir David Attenborough was once a young chap!! 0:25 😉

[@fromtherubble6890]

Bronowski and Attenborough... my 2 favorite Brits... after Charlie D

[@cgbleak]

This is so brilliant. Attenborough was the head of BBC 2. But this isn't about "me me me, look how smart I am." It's about Jacob Bronowski--a little old froggy looking guy with a funny accent--and the skills and talents that made him an utterly compelling host to one of the greatest documentary series ever. "The Ascent of Man" is 50 years old and still worth watching.

[@gwcstudio]

Fascinating.

[@myhistorycanbeatupyourpoli5568]

Huge fan of this show

[@PrivateAckbar]

This is a lot like an excerpt from his biography.

[@badgastein2]

Episode 11 ‘Knowledge or Certainty’ possibly the greatest television yet made.

[@Footloose1949]

I gather that the reason why the brilliant and groundbreaking series 'The Ascent of Man', has not been re-run on the BBC, is because of copyright issues, which had not been resolved (which related to Jacob Bronowski) before his death.

[@lucaviggiani2189]

Footloose1949 I purchased the box set about 10 years ago and I watch it about 3 or 4 times a year. He rekindled my interest in science and my admiration and immersion in watching and reading gifted people with a special talent to impart information in such an effective way. Richard Feynman, Carl Sagan, Brian Cox, Jim Al-Khalili.

[@badgastein2]

The DVD’s come in a box set. The BBC need to re-master it as the picture quality is very poor - the series was originally made on film so potentially it should be possible to achieve HD and issue it on Blu Ray - I think they already did this with ‘Civilisation’.

[@hojoinhisarcher]

Thanks for this.Was completely innocent of these series.Ripping!

[@kdub1242]

I saw the original run of the series, although I was a bit too young to fully appreciate it at the time. I also had no idea at the time that Bronowski was a mathematician. I naturally assumed he was a historian or a philospher. Many years later, I of course got the DVDs and enjoyed the series all over again.

[@christineMaccallum-uo3qx]

I would gather sll this in one big historical and fascinating facts and interesting story and different types of things that time and people in a big wold of nature and Legendary of discovery of something new ❤❤😊😊

[@nickbarton3191]

How he stands ankle deep in the water and grabs a handful of mud. Thinking that we are correct and have absolute right is such a dangerous position. I write this at the prelude of Israeli intervention in Gaza.

[@jasoncowell5133]

My God Mr. Attenborough we will miiss you. In today's world we are devoid of such giants. Real men, real contributors to society and history vs insta-famous embarrassments

[@stretmediq]

The Ascent of Man is, imho, the single greatest documentary series ever. It along with Kenneth Clarke's Civilization are the only two series that reach the level of philosophy

[@susiegoodman4425]

I enjoyed Dr.Bronowski programmes with awe but I am amazed with people that still believe in a 'God' after all the scientific facts show that all humans belong to micro amoebas - it is still beyond our comprehension but to believe in a god that has caused so many wars - is religion a good thing !!??

[@gammondog]

I don't see the god thing as the main problem. It's the belief in the authority of ancient scriptures that interferes with the acceptance of scientific findings. These poor people believe that doubting divine scripture leads to eternal torture after they die. Evolution, the origins of the earth and the age of the universe is to them the ultimate existential threat.

[@elwynj5379]

Perhaps someone should make a follow up series now “The Descent of Man”? 😢. TV & UK culture peaked at this time….

[@wilkoone9155]

I'm sure it says something about modern humanity that there are only 41 comments regarding this video.

[@brucegordon5312]

It's time to put out a 'Descent of Man' series

[@jvincent6548]

I have watched the series many times. Read the book too - many times. I think such times are now gone. Those days had very clever people engaged in programmes of quality. We could think of life as Bach, Pink Floyd and the Spice Girls. Alas, too little of the first and too much of the last.

[@NPA1001]

Ah.. why can’t we have major mainstream things like this now….

[@stoolpigeon4285]

TV was great then. I guess, with less selection, what they offered was the product of thought and effort. Oh how we've gone downhill

[@tedf1471]

For all the BBC haters - can you see a commercial TV station taking this sort of risk or having this sort of vision?

[@jeffcd3559]

He'd be disappointed today.

[@jesusjohnny8286]

Nothing compared to Ashley Banjo

[@keithbird8910]

The irony is that today's "woke" BBC would not make this programme - too white, too euro-centric, not "inclusive" enough.

[@josiahanderson9328]

The irony is The Ascent of Man is neither woke nor Euro-centric. It deals with all cultures, from all times, across all the world. And, it has surprisingly little judgement about them all.

[@keithbird8910]

@@josiahanderson9328 Apart from the first few episodes dealing with the emergence of life in Africa and the development of agriculture in the middle-east, the seires is almost totally Euro-centric - which is a good thing in my opinion as that's where progress in science really took place.

[@igolfjtweetler4097]

Shame Bruno did not get longer. A communicator and great man of learning and intellect, but we still have David Attenborough who illuminated the natural world like no other.